Article, photo: KHANH TRUNG
Currently, the United States and the pangasius import markets of our country have set many specific requirements for pangasius farming establishments to supply raw materials for processing and export to their markets. Therefore, pangasius enterprises and establishments, especially in the Mekong Delta, need to manage the farming areas to meet the requirements and conditions for ensuring food safety and hygiene for export.
Harvesting pangasius in Thot Not district, Can Tho city.
Pangasius is one of the main export seafood products of Can Tho city and many provinces in the Mekong Delta. Recently, pangasius products have been strongly exported to the US market and many countries around the world. The pangasius industry has created jobs, jobs and income for many workers and brought in a huge source of foreign currency for the country.
However, the farming and export of pangasius has also been facing many difficulties due to the impact of climate change, sea level rise, prices of input materials and regular output prices of products. fluctuations in the direction are unfavorable for farmers, processors, and exporters of pangasius. Moreover, the export markets of our country's pangasius and catfish products are increasingly demanding in terms of product quality and have set up many "barriers" to control and ensure food safety of the country. products as well as issues of labor safety, environmental protection... In particular, the leading export market of our country's pangasius is the United States, which sets many specific requirements for pangasius exports. into their country, including requirements on management of farming areas to ensure safe and hygienic farming conditions. In order to meet the requirements of the US market, from 2020 the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has issued Decision No. 1802/QD-BNN-QLCL on promulgating the Program to control fish food safety. and Siluriformes fish products (referred to as catfish) exported to the US market. Our country also has provisions in the Law on Fisheries and the Law on Food Safety to ensure food safety at aquaculture establishments.
The Mekong Delta has 142 pangasius farming areas serving to supply raw materials for processing plants of 5 enterprises exporting to the United States. According to the Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, it is expected that in August 8, the inspection team of the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) - the US Department of Agriculture will visit Vietnam to evaluate the sanitary control system. Food safety for catfish exported to the US market. The FSIS delegation will visit the farming areas and processing and export of catfish at enterprises in the Mekong Delta.
In Can Tho City, pangasius is a key export product, so the city's functional sector is very interested in supporting and guiding pangasius farmers to manage the farming area to meet the requirements for export. Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Hoa, Deputy Director of the Can Tho City Fisheries Sub-Department, said: “The city currently has 207 commercial pangasius farming establishments, of which there are 27 farming establishments and farming areas owned by enterprises. an area of 117,9ha providing raw materials for export to the US market. Through the first 6 months of 2023, the pangasius farming area in the city reached 562ha, reaching 80% of the plan, with the harvested fish output of 94.325 tons, reaching 54% of the plan. Pangasius has made an important contribution to the seafood export turnover of the city, with seafood export turnover in 6 months reaching 237,5 million USD, up 3% over the same period. Can Tho has 33 farming areas of enterprises and farming establishments engaged in supplying raw materials for processing and exporting to the United States. According to the Can Tho Fisheries Sub-Department, over the past time, the unit has actively promoted information and propaganda to raise people's awareness and actions in ensuring food safety and hygiene conditions in the area. aquaculture, processing and export of aquatic products and complying with the provisions of the law on fisheries. Regularly review and inspect to renew and re-issue certificates of eligibility for food safety for farming establishments and farming areas that meet the requirements as prescribed, as well as promptly correct and handle the violate.
According to the Sub-Department of Fisheries in the provinces of the Mekong Delta, over the past time, localities have also actively supported people and businesses to build farming areas to ensure food safety and hygiene conditions, especially in provinces with many regions. farming to supply raw materials for export to the United States such as Dong Thap, An Giang... Currently, the number of farming areas participating in supplying raw materials for processing and exporting to the United States in Dong Thap province is 66 farming areas, An Giang province. There are 12 farming areas, Ben Tre 11 farming areas, Soc Trang 8 farming areas, Long An 5 farming areas, Vinh Long 4 farming areas, Tra Vinh 2 farming areas and Tien Giang 1 farming areas.
In order to properly manage the pangasius farming area and prepare to welcome the FSIS inspection team, the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just organized a training course on "Guidelines for appraisal, monitoring and certification of conditions to ensure safety." food in the rearing stage” in Can Tho city. The leaders and experts of local fisheries management agencies and aquaculture establishments and enterprises in the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta have guided the implementation of requirements for skinfish farming establishments. provide raw materials for processing and export to the United States. At the same time, update information, new regulations on and results of the review and inspection of the authorities on the conditions of farming facilities in the provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta, as well as instructions to overcome them. difficulties, limitations and errors.
According to Mr. Nhu Van Can, Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries, the inspection showed that the farms and farming areas of the enterprise performed very well in ensuring food safety, farming techniques and ponds. However, there is still a potential risk of food insecurity in small farms. In particular, currently pangasius is low, leading to people's neglect in taking care of fish, and some farming households are also subjective in the inspection and management of the farming area. The functional sector in the localities should pay attention to inspecting and guiding people in the management of farming areas, avoiding subjectivity and neglect. At the same time, pangasius processing enterprises for export need to link and closely coordinate with farming households and stakeholders in the commodity chain to ensure standard farming areas.
